Explosion hits Kurdish neighborhood in Syria's Aleppo

Rudaw

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - An explosion struck the Kurdish neighborhood of Ashrafieh in Aleppo city on Monday, amid escalating tensions between Kurdish forces and Damascus-affiliated groups in the northern part of the country, sources told Rudaw.

The explosion went off in an area separating Kurdish forces from state-affiliated ones. No casualties have been reported so far. 

Circumstances surrounding the blast have remained unknown, but it comes amid heightening tensions between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), whose Asayish forces are in control of Ashrafieh, and armed groups affiliated with the interim government in Damascus in several northern frontlines. 

The SDF-held Deir Hafer district in Aleppo province has witnessed several skirmishes between the two sides in recent days, as the full implementation of a March agreement between the SDF and the transitional authorities has faced setbacks. The deal includes a nationwide ceasefire.

Both sides have traded blames for the recent unrest.

Pro-SDF media also reported on the Ashrafieh explosion but stopped short of assigning blame. Ronahi TV reported that the explosion caused damage to a nearby hospital.

Pro-government Syria TV reported that remnants of war stored in a tunnel were detonated.